Department
Public Works
Requested Action (Identify appropriate Action or Motion, purpose, cost, timeframe, etc.)
title
For spreading on the minutes: Executed temporary Right of Entry (ROE) agreements permitting Public Works staff or contractors to enter properties within Fulton County to determine the composition of their water service lines, as required by the Lead Copper Rule Revision as administered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. (APPROVED UPON ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA)
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Requirement for Board Action (Cite specific Board policy, statute or code requirement)
O.C.G.A. § 36-10-1 requires that all contracts entered into by a county governing authority with other persons on behalf of the county must be in writing and entered on the minutes. Further, Fulton County Code §1-117 provides, in pertinent part, that the Board of Commissioners shall be the authority “to exercise such other powers as are granted by law or are indispensable to their jurisdiction over county matters”
Strategic Priority Area related to this item (If yes, note strategic priority area below)
Health and Human Services
Commission Districts Affected
All Districts ☐
District 1 ☒
District 2 ☒
District 3 ☐
District 4 ☐
District 5 ☐
District 6 ☐
Is this a purchasing item?
No
Summary & Background On January 15, 2021, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the Lead Copper Rule Revision (LCRR), requiring that all public water systems, including the water system operated by Fulton County, take steps to identify and replace all lead and galvanized pipes by the year 2037. The initial step in complying with the LCRR is to compile an inventory of water service lines within the water system operated by Fulton County. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division (EPD) is responsible for enforcing the LCRR requirements within Georgia.
Scope of Work: The LCRR requires that Fulton County Develop an initial service line inventory for all customers to determine which customers are potentially at risk for lead contamination. As part of Agenda Item No. 24-0415, on June 26, 2024 the BOC delegated authority to the Director of the Public Works Department to enter into agreements with private property owners to determine the composition of water service lines on their property. As part of the BOC’s approval, the Public Works Department is required to spread the temporary Right of Entry agreements quarterly on the Board of Commissioners minutes. The signed and executed agreements from the previous quarter have been attached as Exhibit No. 1.
Community Impact: Inspection of the service line inventory will allow the Public Works Department to ascertain which customers are at-risk for lead contamination based on the makeup of their existing water service lines.
Department Recommendation: The Public Works Department recommends approval of this item.
Project Implications: Under the LCRR, drinking water systems across the County are required to identify and replace all lead and galvanized pipes by the year 2037.
Community Issues/Concerns: There may be members of the community who do not want to participate in this inventory and/or allow staff or contractors to determine the makeup of the water service lines on their property. In these cases, the customers will be notified of the potential risks and the notification will be documented by the Public Works Department in accordance with the LCRR guidance.
Department Issues/Concerns: Currently, the Public Works Department’s maintenance responsibility ends at the water meter. Permission from the property owner is required to complete the lead service line inventory as stipulated by the LCRR.
Fiscal Impact / Funding Source
Funding Line 1:
N/A